Improvement in grates



Z Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. MEARNS.

GRATE.

Patented April 25, 1876.

NPETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JAMES H. MEARNS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,439, dated April 25, 1876; application filed September 30, 1875.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. MEARNS, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Movable Grates for Burning Fuel, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of the following particulars: The bottom grate has pivotal projections at its rear edge, which have a sliding movement between the upper edges of the ash-pit and the brick-rest, as the grate is rocked by means of a crank-shaft, which is provided with cam-lifters, that move against the bottom grate. The front grate is hung by means of pivots at its upper edge, and at its lower edge has a hooked connection with the front edge of the bottom grate, so that as the latter grate is rocked an oscillatory movement is given to the front grate, to press the coal backward in the fire-place in the backward movement of the grate, that, as the grate returns to its forward position, the coal will descend, and thereby fill up the opening caused by the shaking out of the ashes, thusgetting rid of the difliculty of the coal sticking to all four sides of the fire-place, which ordinarily occurs. The lower bar of the front grate is provided with cam-lugs, which direct the grate to its proper position, so that the hooks will catch on the front bar of the bottom grate. If desired, the lugs may be placed on the bottom grate instead of the front grate. The front grate has a cap-piece, which is separate from its top edge, and fully protects it against burning out-a desideratum much needed, as heretofore the grate frequently required renewing as the top burned away. In this case the cap is made sufficiently thick to prevent its burning out soon, and when it has to be renewed it is done without the loss of the grate. from the under side of the brick-rest, come between the bars of the bottom grate, to prevent slate or coal, getting in and arresting the movement of the grate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the front part of a stove, showing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, the front doors being left off. Fig.

3 is a cross-section of the crank-shaft H, at the line a: m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a verti- There are fingers, which, projecting cal section, at the line 3 y of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the brick-rest J. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 7 is an isometrical view of one end of the front grate F and the bottom grate D, in connection, detached from the stove. I

Like letters of reference in all the figures indicate the same parts.

In the drawings a cook-stove is represented merely for the sake of illustration, to show the arrangement and working of the grate.

A is the bottom plate; B, the front plate, and G the top plate. D is the bottom grate, and F the front grate, cast separate therefrom. H is a crank-shaft, upon which a bearing, a, at each end of the front bar of the bottom grate rests.

The bearings have double prongs, which straddle the shaft and keep the grate securely in connection with the shaft. The rear bar of the grate has pivotal projections b b, which rest upon the upper edges of the ash-pit sides I I. The sides are depressed the thickness of the pivots, to receive them and admit of their sliding back and forth beneath the fire-brick rest J, the sliding movement being caused by the raising and lowering of the front part of the grate by the action of the lifters d d of the crank-shaft, when an oscillatory movement is given to the latter by means of its lever K on one end of the shaft. edges of the grate-bars e are curved for the purpose of moving the coal toward the center of the fire in the shaking process, to free it of the ashes which lie at the front and back of the tire. They are also serrated, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, to cause them to take hold of the coal, to prevent the grate slipping under it. L is a hollow cap, which incloses the upper edge of the front edge F, and protects it from the action of the fire, to prevent its burning out. It is fastened to the inside of the front plate B by means of rivets, which pass through its end flanges ff. The cap has bearings g g at its ends for the support of the pivots h h at the upper edge of the grate. The lower edge of the grate is provided with books t" i, which connect with the front bar of the bottom grate D. It has also inclined lugs j j, which bear against the front side of the bar, to give the proper direction to the grate The upper and cause the hooks to connect with the bottom grate. The lugs may. if desired, be placed on the bottom grate instead, as the action will be the same when placed on either grate. The connection of the lower edge of the grate F with the front bar of the bottom grate D provides for an oscillatory movement of the grate F as the grate l) is operated by means of the crank-shaft H, as above described. 0n the under side of the brick-rest J there are fingers K, which come between the bars ,0 of the bottom grate -D, and prevent the slate or coal working in between the grate and brickrest.

The object in giving the backward and forward movements of the front grate F is to crush the coal and cause it to fall on the bottom grate D as the ashes are shaken down. This is efi'ected as follows: In the backward movement of the grate F the body of coal is pressed backward, so as to fill up the interstices caused by the downward movement of the ashes; and in the return movement to its extreme front position, by its being drawn away from the body of the coal, the latter is caused to descend, by its gravity, into a sufliciently compact condition, as the friction on the sides of the fire-place, which otherwise causes the coal to stick, is overcome. The

lever K is provided with an extension-piece, K, which is connected by means of the socket l, for its removal to allow the lever to be turned down when the grate D is required to be brought to its lowest position for cleaning. M is a movable stop, connected with the front B by means of the pivot m, for the purpose of being turned in front of the lever K when the grate D is at rest, to hold the latter securely in position, and to admit of lowering the lever when the grate has to be brought to its lowest position for cleaning, substantially as set forth.

1 claim as my invention 1. The combination of the bottom grate D,

.having pivots b b at its back edge, and bearings a a at its front edge, with the upper edges of the sides I I of the ash'pit, and with the crank-shaft H, having lifters d d, whereby a sliding backward and forward movement is given to the grate at its back edge, and a raising and lowering movement to its front edge, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the front grate F, having books i i and lugsjj, with the bottom grate D, whereby an oscillatory motion is given to the front grate by the movement of the bottom grate, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the protecting-cap L with the upper edge of the front grate F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The brick-rest J, having fingers K, in combination with the bottom grate D, for the purpose of preventing slate and coal working in between the grate and brick-rest, substantially as set forth.

JAMES H. MEARNS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. BEWLEY, STEPHEN USTICK. 

